Job Details

IMPORTANT NOTE TO CANDIDATES

Khan Lab School in Palo Alto, CA, has engaged DovetailED to lead a search for a Lower School Director to start in July 2026. Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Madison Sunley, Senior Recruiter at DovetailED Talent Sourcing (...@dovetailedsourcing.com).

ABOUT KHAN LAB SCHOOL

Khan Lab School (KLS) is an independent, nonprofit, co‑educational school founded by Sal Khan in 2014 to reimagine education for the future. Inspired by The One World Schoolhouse, KLS brings mastery‑based, student‑centered learning to life. Today, Khan Lab School operates two schools, serving over 300 students in its flagship Silicon Valley, CA campus and 30+ students in its newly opened campus in Wichita, KS. The school has a long history of strong financial management, with $12M in annual revenue, $4.5M in reserves, no debt, and clean annual audits. The Lower School (Grades TK‑5) has an enrollment of around 150 students.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Lower School Director is a key member of Khan Lab School's leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a mastery‑based learning visionary who inspires students and staff alike. This pivotal role combines academic and operational leadership with a passion for reimagining education, requiring a technically savvy, hands‑on player/coach and leader with proven experience as an academic leader in innovative school environments who actively supports both teachers and students through direct engagement, whether it be teaching a class, leading an advisory group, or conducting classroom observations. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional creative problem‑solving skills and adaptability to develop personalized educational pathways, coupled with outstanding communication abilities to engage effectively with students, parents, and faculty.

Beyond managing the Lower School program, Extended Day, and Summer Programs, when offered, this leader will champion innovative teaching methods including AI integration, lead teacher evaluation, professional development initiatives, and contribute to school‑wide strategic projects such as defining the Early Childhood program and developing curriculum mapping efforts. This position is designed for an educational leader who is deeply committed to fostering a culture that believes in students' exceptional potential, advocates for radically different approaches to education, and thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment where anything is possible when decisions are made through a lens of what's best for the students.

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic & Operational Leadership

• Lead all daily operations of the Lower School program, including the creation of the school's academic schedule, calendar, and other key documents.
• Work strategically with the Admissions team to establish clear enrollment targets and growth milestones, ensuring sustainable program expansion.
• Oversee the Extended Day & Summer Programs with accountability for quality, enrollment, and operational efficiency.
• Actively co‑create a school culture with teachers and students.
• Champion the implementation of mastery‑based learning across the Lower School, in partnership with the founder and leadership team, ensuring consistent pedagogy and student outcomes alignment.
• Model and mentor teachers in the strategic use of AI and innovative teaching methods to enhance personalized learning.
• Cultivate an environment of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity.
• Lead by example such as teaching a class or leading an advisory group.
• Manage student disciplinary actions including major infractions.

Student Support

• Design and implement a comprehensive Lower School Advisory program that develops social‑emotional competencies, executive function skills, and a sense of belonging.
• Oversee partnerships with external organizations that provide support for executive function skill development and student well‑being.
• Lead data‑informed monitoring of student progress, including Khan Academy analytics and progress reports, to identify intervention opportunities and celebrate mastery‑based milestones.

Faculty Support

• Support, mentor, and train new faculty to thrive in the Lower School.
• Execute all aspects of the student and faculty scheduling process.
• Collaborate with school leadership on the development of the faculty Inservice at the start of the school year.
• Conduct Lower School classroom observations and provide annual performance evaluations.
• Develop the August Inservice program with a clear focus on mastery‑based pedagogy and school‑wide priorities.
• Establish a cadence of regular classroom observations focused on instructional excellence and mastery‑based implementation.
• Lead ongoing professional development efforts that deepen faculty expertise in mastery‑based learning, data literacy, and innovative pedagogical practices.

Operations & Finance

• Oversee the Lower School's budget and meet regularly with the CFO to monitor budget‑to‑actuals.
• Coordinate facilities usage.
• Collaborate on updating the school's handbooks and coordinate with the Admissions & Marketing department.
• Participate in admissions, the enrollment process, and Lower School promotional events.
• Partner with the Head Reps of the Family Association for budget development and Lower School events.

Human Resources & Staff Development

• Recruit, hire, and build a faculty that's aligned with Khan Lab School's mission and mastery‑based learning philosophy.
• Manage performance and professional growth through goal setting, observations, and feedback grounded in instructional excellence.
• Work with the HR team to manage all of the Lower School employee's PTO requests in a timely manner.

Community Building & Communications

• Strengthen community ties among the students, parents, and staff in collaboration with other members of the school's leadership team.
• Coordinate with the other School Directors for various Family Association activities and meetings.
• Build, trust, and maintain open communication with families, particularly around student progress, mastery demonstration, and personalized learning approaches.
• Communicate regularly with the Lower School community via the monthly newsletter and e‑mail announcements and updates.

Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives

• Define and articulate the Lower School's program's distinctive identity, pedagogical approach, and alignment with mastery‑based learning.
• Ensure all faculty have deep, ongoing understanding of mastery‑based learning principles, implementation strategies, and assessment practices.
• Lead comprehensive curriculum mapping efforts across grades TK‑5, ensuring coherence, mastery based learning, and clear progressions.
• Develop and implement a strategic, school‑wide approach for thoughtful AI integration that enhances personalized learning and student agency.
• Establish a clear curriculum map for the Lower School programs which reflect mastery‑based principles and supports student progression.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & EXPERIENCE

• A master's degree is required in educational leadership, curriculum & instruction, or a related field (or the equivalent in demonstrated work experience).
• Must have at least 5‑10 years of progressive leadership and supervisory work experience in an innovative, mission‑driven school environment.
• Expertise in mastery‑based and competency‑based learning model, and a proven track record of implementing and scaling these approaches.
• A deep knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood learning for elementary grade levels.
• Track record of developing, mentoring, and evaluating teachers with a focus on instructional excellence and evidence‑based, mastery‑focused teaching practices.
• Experience managing budgets and overseeing the operational functions of a small school campus and/or learning community.
• Exceptional ability at building trust and communicating effectively with students, families, faculty, and diverse stakeholders.
• Skilled in leveraging educational technology and data systems to track student mastery, identify learning gaps, and inform personalized instruction.
• Comfort thriving in a collaborative, fast‑paced, mission‑oriented environment.

PHYSICAL WORK REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull up to 25 pounds as some regular organizational tasks involve moving desks, chairs, equipment, and other school supplies, as needed.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
• Capable of occasionally moving around an office environment to access filing cabinets, office equipment, etc.
• Ability to proficiently and frequently operate a computer and keyboard as well as other office equipment such as calculators, copy machines, printers, and projectors.
• Consistently practice safe working habits while using school supplies, equipment, and electronics as well as the ability to maintain a safe and hazard‑free workstation for yourself and others at the school.
• Occasionally required to work weekends, nights, or be on‑call for special events, which are sometimes held outside and require the ability and willingness to work in any weather conditions at any time of the year.
• Ability to properly communicate information and ideas so other people can understand as well as the ability to ascertain and understand information communicated from others.

WHAT WE OFFER

Khan Lab School is a community of learners and partners who have a deep commitment to their work. We get things done and believe that in our highly collaborative environment, anything is possible. All our decisions are made through the lens of what is best for our students. We tackle tough questions without ego, are results‑oriented, and have high expectations for school and our students.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please submit the following:

• Current resume.
• A cover letter expressing your interest in, and qualifications for, this position.
• A list of 3 professional references with their names, phone numbers, email addresses, job titles, and your working relationship with them. References will not be contacted without your permission.

PAY & BENEFITS

• Start Date: Between January and July of 2026 (must start no later than July 1st, 2026).
• Location: Palo Alto, CA 94041
• Classification: Exempt; Salaried
• Employment Status: Full‑time
• Reports To: Executive Director
• Salary: $185,000.00 per year, dependent upon experience.
• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; a 401K retirement plan with an employer match; basic life insurance; short‑term and long‑term disability insurance; and generous paid time off including paid holidays, sick time, and floating holidays. KLS student tuition assistance for any dependents who qualify.

Khan Lab School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The organization does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disabilities, medical conditions (including medical history or genetic characteristics), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws and/or regulations.